Brits love smart devices

Ownership of smartphones in the UK has increased by nearly 50% and that of tablets by over 80% in less than a year

Smartphones and tablet computer ownership is rocketing, and is changing consumer behaviour, according&nbsp;to&nbsp;new&nbsp;research.

Well over half (58%) of the mobile phones in the UK are now smartphones, and one in five adults (20%) now owns a tablet computer. Those are some of the results of new research carried out for the Mobile Operators Association (MOA) and carried out by YouGov.

MOA executive director, John Cooke, said: 'The speed with which people are adopting this new technology has been phenomenal. Comparing this latest data with previous research from Ofcom suggests that ownership of smartphones in the UK has increased by nearly 50% and that of tablets by over 80% in less than a year'.

He added: 'Even more important than the figures on ownership is the way these devices are changing consumer behaviour. People are increasingly choosing to use mobile devices to access the internet, even when they have a fixed connection available. It's not surprising that email and accessing social networking sites are the most popular activities for mobile broadband, but we are also looking at maps and finding directions, checking train and bus times, and shopping.'

The research showed that 11% of people have a dongle, modem stick or data card for mobile broadband usage. Also, that emailing (43%) and accessing social networks (40%) are the most popular activities for mobile phone users; people report being in contact with friends and family as the main benefit of mobile phones.

Smartphones and tablets are also affecting the way we shop. Altogether, 10% of people buy goods and services via a tablet, and 13% do so using a mobile.

Cooke added: 'It's important that the planning system supports the deployment of mobile infrastructure, particularly with the advent of 4G mobile services, because without that infrastructure, people won't be able to use their mobile devices as they want to and as they are increasingly doing.'

About Smart Chimps

Smart Chimps is the creation of freelance editor, writer and media trainer, Heather McLean. Heather has been involved in telecoms journalism since 2001, specialising in mobile since 2002. Find out more